Born in Chicago, Illinois, Hogan made his New York City stage debut in the off-Broadway Circle Repertory Company's highly successful production of Hot L Baltimore. He remained with the company for Fifth of July (for which he composed the incidental music), Balm in Gilead (sharing a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Acting), Burn This, and As Is, all of which eventually transferred to Broadway. The last garnered him Drama Desk and Tony Award nominations as Best Actor in a Play. Additional Broadway credits include Comedians, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, and The Homecoming.

Hogan's television credits include stints on the soap operas Ryan's Hope, As the World Turns, and One Life to Live and appearances on L.A. Law, Quantum Leap, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, and the original Law & Order, on which he has guested four times.